Project to resolve Trinco's drinking water issues

By Mohammed NAALIR

The Trincomalee integrated water supply project and Ampara district project will support the decentralized implementation of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) activities in the local levels, backed by a community-based approach where beneficiary communities participate in decision-making at all stages of sub-project implementation.

Proposed intake site at Maheveli river at Allai

Plaque at the construction site in Allai.

The construction site of the pump house at Allai, Kantale. The filter station at Kantale plant. Pix. Mohammed Naalir

The community is represented by community-based organisations and held responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities. This project provided technical assistance to the Eastern Provincial Council in carrying out its functions under this new initiative in relation to planning, implementation and management of the project. The Consultants also ensure effective transfer of expertise and advice on all matters of project planning and management in conformity with the Project Implementation Plan (PIP). The project targeted three local authorities in each of the two districts for the implementation of the RWSS activities. RDC fielded services of a Community Development Specialist, Water Supply technical specialist and a Hydro-geologist for each district, along with a financial assistant and a senior technical officer to each LA.

The key task assigned to consultants was the completion of sub projects at village level within the stipulated time frame, and assuring their sustainability by strengthening the CBOs.

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Kantale Water Treatment Plant and the Trincomalee integrated water supply project. The new water supply scheme has been planned to resolve drinking water problems of the people in the Trincomalee District

Once the greater Trincomalee integrated water supply project is completed over 65,000 connections can be given and 330,000 people will benefit.

The present supply hours are less than 12 hours and moves are under way to increase the supply hours from 12 to 24 hours.

the French Development Agency will fund Euro 10.35 million for this project, Sri Lanka Government and French Ministry of Finance are funding Rs. 1003 million and Euro 12.50 million respectively for this project.

The components of the Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply project are rehabilitation and upgrading of Kantale Water Treatment Plant (rehabilitation of clarifiers, filters, pumping building, construction of new filters and clarifiers, rehabilitation of building, reagent building, chlorination building and distribution tank), workshop, garages, generator and transformer building to increase the pipe borne water supply from 5.5 million to 12.00 million gallons per day.

The coverage area of the Project is Trincomalee and Gravets, Kinniya, Thambalagamuwa and Kantale.

Augmentation of Existing Water Treatment Plant with additional source with raw water main and construction of tower, laying transmission main and laying of distribution networks.

A top rank officer attached to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board said that DI pipe will be laid to 21 kilometre from Allai intake to Kantale Water Treatment Plant.

The construction of intake, pump house, reservoir rehabilitation, water tower construction in Kinniya, PE pipe laying from Thambalagamuwa to Kinniya, distribution line for town and gravets, Sampaltivu, Thambalagamuwa, Kantale and Kinniya also come under the Greater Trincomalee Integrated Water Supply project.

The Trincomalee District which belongs to the Eastern Province is surrounded by Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, and Mullaitive districts. The population account to 412,457 persons belonging to 105,155 families.

The land area covered by the district is 272,880 square kilometre.

There are 11 Pradeshiya Sabhas and 2 Urban Councils in the district, represented by 230 Grama Seva Divisions.

The area covered by water resources amount to 98 square kilometre. Majority of the population indulge in agricultural work. 44 percent of the land in the district is utilized for agricultural activities. The Forest covers 30 percent of lands in the district.

The Government has implemented giant infrastructure development projects as well as livelihood development projects in both provinces.

The Government along with its international donors have incurred millions of rupees to restructure and rehabilitate the region victimized by the terrorism. Once the implemented development projects are finished the North and East will be the gateway of development of this country.

The terrorism affected North and East are returning to normal smoothly and rapidly. The giant bridge constructions and mega water supply projects can be seen in the region where only moaning and chaos were the daily occurrences.

The people who were neglected fundamental rights due to the LTTE terrorists now are enjoying real life with freedom.

The Government is reaching the peak of the development in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The safe drinking water supply to those people takes significance beyond all these development projects.

The Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage is engaged in the process of providing safe drinking water to the masses of this country including the North and East under the Mahinda Chinthana national development concept.

The duties are to formulate a national policy on drinking water and sanitation, coordinate with local and foreign stakeholders in the fields of water supply and sanitation, coordinate between local contractors and subcontractors involved in the fields of water supply and sanitation, implement awareness programs on the use of drinking water produced at a high cost sparingly, formulate laws, regulations and legislations relevant to the fields of water supply and sanitation, ádesign a data system relevant to the field of water supply, implement the national policy on Rain Water Harvesting, make proper arrangements to reduce non-income generating water, regulate the progress of water supply and sanitation projects through Results Based Management initiatives and achieve the goal of providing safe drinking water to 85 percent and adequate sanitation facilities to 88 percent of the population by the year 2015 as per the development objectives of the new millennium.

The complex environment and the growing pressures from an increasing population have led to an urgent need for reliable and safe water supply to meet demands of the urban as well as rural communities.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has granted greater autonomy to the Regional Support Centres (RSCs), which are currently functioning as a Department in NWSDB.

This requires a whole range of management and business tools, including a business plan, before autonomy can be effective. Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) is supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in these efforts to rehabilitate and extend existing water supply and sewerage systems. Resources Development Consultants (RDC) (Pvt) Ltd is fielding five consultants in the fields of water supply, training, curriculum development, and Management Information System (MIS) for a period of 3 years. Community Water Supply and Sanitation Projects (CWSSP) in Trincomalee and Ampara Districts takes significance in fulfilling the safe water need of the people in both districts including the villages.